Unreasonable director-related transactions
Similarly, to an uncommercial transaction claim, an unreasonable director-related transaction arises when a transaction is entered into by a director or close associate of the company, in circumstances where it may be expected that a reasonable person in the company’s circumstances would not have entered into the transaction. Again, the court has regard to the benefits and/or detriments to the company by entering into the transaction. Liquidators have the power under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) to avoid such transactions.
The main differences between an unreasonable director-related transaction and an uncommercial transaction claim is that:
- For an unreasonable director-related transaction to arise, a director or close associate must be involved;
- The transaction does not have to have been entered into when the company was insolvent – meaning the Liquidator does not need to go to the effort of proving insolvency; and
- The relation-back period is 4 years.